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Jamie Vardy joked it felt like speed dating, Fabian Delph was presented with a personalised box of tea bags and Ruben Loftus-Cheek floss danced with CBBC. This was not your average England pre-World Cup media day.

Keen to ease the pressure of the relentless nature of the media coverage around the World Cup, the Football Association decided to take a leaf out of the NFL’s book.

Having travelled to America to look at the preparations for the Super Bowl, the FA put all 23 players in manager Gareth Southgate’s squad up for interview.

In the middle of the large Futsal Hall at St George’s Park stood a four-sided clock that counted down from 45 minutes, although Harry Kane happily stayed on for an extra 10 minutes to complete his duties as captain.

There were no rules of what could and could not be asked, and there were no FA officials flanking each player to worry over the nature of the questions or the answers. This was certainly the most relaxed environment in which the squad have ever spoken.

Harry Kane stuck around to answer more questionsCredit:
Getty images

The FA had wanted a klaxon to sound when time was up, but the logistics of such a set up proved impossible. It mattered not, however, as most people appeared to leave happy with their personal encounters.

What could have resulted in the biggest media bun fight of recent years passed successfully and without major incident. One Russian broadcaster was annoyed that he did not get time to ask his own questions to Kane, but he had arrived late to that particular party.

The nature of the day meant anything could potentially happen and the most bizarre sight had to be of Delph posing with a box of personalised tea bags and joking it was better that his Premier League title winners’ medal.

Fabian Delph was given a personalised box of teaCredit:
PA

Bradford-born Delph had revealed he would be packing some Yorkshire Tea for Russia and the Harrogate-based brand did the rest.

Loftus-Cheek was one of the most inexperienced talkers sat behind their individual desks, but he was also one of the most relaxed.

The 22-year-old did not flinch when he was asked to dance on camera by a CBBC presenter and busted out his best floss dance move. This was a long way from Joe Hart refusing to talk about darts tournaments during the uptight and miserable Euro 2016 campaign.

England will ultimately be judged on the pitch in Russia, but, off it, they are making a promising and entertaining start.